After five years of formation, 10 men from local parishes will be ordained deacons of the Archdiocese of Louisville on Aug. 24.
Archbishop Shelton J. Fabre will preside at the ordination Mass set for 11 a.m. at St. Peter the Apostle Church, 5431 Johnsontown Road.
“We’ve got surgeons, truck drivers, UPS” employees, said Deacon Denny Nash, director of the archdiocese’s Diaconate Office.
They will join 93 other men already serving as deacons in the archdiocese.
The new deacons have spent the past five years in a special formation program, and those who are married were accompanied in this formation by their wives.
While part of the formation happens in a classroom setting, other parts happen through ministry experiences and during retreats, noted Deacon Nash.
“Formation isn’t just going to school,” he said. “The church believes everyone has four dimensions — the human, the pastoral dimension, the intellectual dimension and the spiritual. They blend together to make up our human experience.”
In addition to their formation, Deacon Nash said, “Everything they have experienced to this point — jobs, family — helps them in their ministry. It really allows them to be empathetic and to really accompany people.”
In that way, Deacon Nash noted, deacons bridge the experience of laity and clergy.
For hands-on ministry, this cohort of deacons went through hospital ministry training.
“As pairs, they shadowed chaplains at UofL (Hospital’s) trauma (unit). They were expected to do 40 hours of service at the hospital, and they were all certified volunteers at UofL trauma,” he said.
“Normally we would have them experience prison and jail ministry, but that wasn’t possible because of Covid,” which affected the first year of formation, he said.
The formation program also brought prayer to the forefront.
“They’re required to do the liturgy of the hours — morning and evening prayer,” said Deacon Nash. “If you’re ordained you’re expected to do that every day.
“They also learned to lead prayer within the cohort and with others,” he said.
While the cohort’s preparation for ordination has ended, their formation hasn’t, noted Deacon Nash.
“Formation doesn’t end with ordination,” he said. “It’s now a requirement that the newly ordained be in structured formation for five years and to continue formation after that.”
The ministry of a deacon is often very visible and hands-on. Deacons administer some sacraments, including baptism and marriage. And they are called to do charitable work for the church, such as prison and jail ministry or hospital ministry.
But one of their most important roles is to serve as a model, said Deacon Nash.
During Mass, he noted, when the deacon assists at the altar, “We are there for the same reason as the laity — we are there to be fed so we can go out in service to others.”
As Mass ends, the deacon calls on the congregation to “Go in peace, glorifying the Lord with your life.”
“It is meant to be your marching orders,” said Deacon Nash.
“We’ve come to know the role of the deacon not only as one who serves, but one who is the outward sign of the servant in the church,” he said. “We invite the laity to participate in the church’s diakonia,” from the Greek, meaning servant.
“All of us are discerning; by our baptism all of us are discerners,” he said. “How can we live out that baptism, how can we serve others and bring Christ to others?”
Deacon Nash, who plans to retire at the end of the year, said he believes the world is in dire need of diakonia.
“I think we’re here for a reason,” he said, noting that the diaconate as a permanent state was reintroduced by Vatican II. “I think when Vatican II instituted the order as a permanent order, their decision to do that was of the Holy Spirit. Because the world has never been more in need of diakonia. God saw a need in the world.”
The Archdiocese of Louisville offers a new cohort for the diaconate every four years. The class of 2028 will be assisting at the ordination on Aug. 24, setting up for the reception and greeting the congregation. One will serve as the cantor and a few will serve at the Mass.
He noted the next group is also diverse. It includes a Vietnamese candidate, an African American candidate and five Spanish speakers. Beginning with this new group, wives of married deacons will be required to attend their formation. In the past, their participation was encouraged.
Following is biographical information about each couple provided by the Diaconate Office.
Joseph Jim Creely and his wife Ellen, founding members of St. Bernadette Church, have been married for 34 years and have four daughters.
Jim Creely, a native of New Orleans, is an otolaryngologist working in head and neck surgery at Norton Brownsboro Hospital. He earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Notre Dame, studied medicine at Vanderbilt University and did his residency at Louisiana State University in New Orleans.
Ellen Creely studied nursing at St. Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Ind., and was a pediatric oncology nurse. She earned a master’s degree in hospital administration from the College of St. Francis in Joliet Ill. She now works at St. Bernadette Church as the Neighbor Care coordinator. She also served on councils that helped guide the formation of St. Bernadette and St. Mary Academy.
The couple, who moved to Louisville in 1996, have been involved in the following ministries: youth athletics, RCIA, the GIFT program, baptism preparation, Bible study and liturgical ministry as lectors and extraordinary ministers of holy Communion.
He has been assigned to serve at Holy Name and St. Martin de Porres churches.
Christopher J. Kelly and his wife Laurie, who have been members of St. Michael Church for more than 25 years, have been married for 31 years.
Chris Kelly has had a 25-plus year career with UPS Airlines in various areas, ranging from finance to industrial engineering. He attended St. Xavier High School and earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Louisville.
He serves his parish as a lector, extraordinary minister of holy Communion, acolyte and in RCIA.
Laurie Kelly, a licensed property and casualty insurance agent, works for USI Insurance Services. She graduated from Presentation Academy and earned an associate degree in interior design. She serves her parish as a lector and previously served in the adult choir and adult faith formation.
He has been assigned to serve at Holy Trinity and St. Frances of Rome churches.
Douglas B. Korfhage and Patty Korfhage, owners of Korfhage Floor Covering, have been married for 43 years. They have two sons and five grandchildren.
Doug Korfhage attended Guardian Angels School and St. Xavier High School. While working at UPS and as a realtor, he attended the University of Louisville and Boyce College.
He has served his parish, St. Boniface Church, as an acolyte, extraordinary minister of holy Communion and as a member of the parish council. He also has a recreational pilot license.
He has been assigned to serve at the Church of the Ascension.
Jim Kramer and Kelly Kramer have been married for 31 years and have four children.
Jim Kramer, the son of Deacon Ray and Lillian Kramer, has a degree in electrical engineering and is a partner with Cherry Bekaert Advisory, responsible for their Managed IT Services practice. He also has a certificate in pastoral ministry (focused on youth) from Spalding University.
He serves as a KHSAA and NCAA field hockey umpire and has served in non-partisan offices, such as a commissioner and mayor, for 26 years. He is also a founding member of the non-profit TAG Ministries.
Kelly Kramer holds a bachelor’s in science from Western Kentucky University and works as a dental hygienist.
The couple have been active in various ministries in their parish, St. Aloysius Church in Pewee Valley, Ky., including coaching, parish picnic leadership, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Women’s Club, Men’s Club, parish council and other ministerial positions.
He has been assigned to serve at the Church of the Immaculate Conception.
Craig Lish and his wife, Julia, natives of Louisville, have been married for 19 years and have two children.
Craig Lish attended St. John Vianney School, De Sales High School, Iroquois High School and the University of Louisville, where he earned a bachelor’s degree. He has been a member of St. Thomas More Church for 22 years and has been active in many ministries. He works as a warehouse manager for Korfhage Floor Covering.
He has been assigned to serve at St. Thomas More and Our Lady of Mount Carmel churches.
Randy Perkins and his wife, Colleen, have been married for 29 years and have three children. Randy Perkins is director of students at Trinity High School. Prior to Trinity, he worked for Jefferson County Public Schools (2009-2014) and practiced law (1994-2009). He also has worked as needed as a psychiatric rehabilitation counselor at Wellspring since 2012. He received his J.D. from University of Louisville School of Law and a bachelor of science degree from Murray State University.
Colleen Perkins is a business development executive for MillerKnoll. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kentucky. She is alco active in a number of community and industry organizations.
The couple are active members of the Church of the Epiphany. He is involved in numerous liturgical ministries, including lector, acolyte and extraordinary minister of holy Communion, serves as a confirmation sponsor and participates in prison ministry at Luther Luckett Correctional Complex.
He has been assigned to serve at Epiphany.
Donald P. Robbins has three children and four grandchildren with his late wife of 39 years, Judy. She died of breast cancer in 2017.
During his high school summers, he began a career in plumbing that continues more than 50 years later. He graduated from the now-closed Bishop David High School and has helped with the senior retreats at Holy Cross High School for more than 35 years.
Robbins was a lifelong member of St. Denis Church before it closed to form Mary Queen of Peace Church and continues to worship in that community. He has been active in parish life since he was 14. Most recently he has served as a member of the choir, art and environment committee, building and grounds committee, worship committee and the parish council.
He has been assigned to serve at Mary Queen of Peace Church.
Craig Roberts and his wife, Theresa Corrigan, have been married for nearly 30 years and have two children.
Roberts, a native New Yorker, worked for the University of Louisville School of Medicine as an orthopaedic surgeon and faculty member for 29 years. He retired in 2022 after 11 years as the K. Armand Fischer Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. He has also served as a medic for the Louisville Metro Police Department SWAT Team and as a probation and parole officer for the State of Kentucky.
He has served as an extraordinary minister of holy Communion and a sacristan at Holy Trinity Church. He has also been active in the Father Jack Jones Food Pantry, Holy Trinity’s youth group and Vacation Bible School, and St. James/St. Brigid churches’ Bible study.
Corrigan, who has practiced as a musculoskeletal radiologist for 31 years, has served as an extraordinary minister of holy Communion, a member and secretary of the board of directors of Community Catholic Center and the advancement coordinator for Boy Scout Troop 319 at St. Leonard.
He has been assigned to serve at St. Francis of Assisi Church.
Michael A. Schmitt and his wife, Audrey, have been married for 42 years and have four children and three grandchildren.
He graduated from the University of Louisville and has spent his career in manufacturing and logistics, holding senior executive roles and membership on boards of directors.
She also graduated from the University of Louisville and spent 41 years in dentistry before retiring.
The couple are founding members of St. Bernadette Church, where he has served on the pastoral council, as a lector and extraordinary minister of holy Communion, in Welcome Ministry, Haiti Committee, the GIFT program, Men’s Ministry, Lector, and EMHC. He is also a member of the Knights of Columbus.
She has served in multiple ministries, including Angel Tree, Bereavement/Angel Ministry, the GIFT program, extraordinary minister of holy Communion and is a member of the women’s Bible study group.
He has been assigned to serve at St. Martha Church.
M. Kevin Webb and his wife, Donrita, have been married for 35 years. They have two daughters and three grandsons.
The couple graduated from Holy Cross High School in 1987 where they were high school sweethearts.
Kevin Webb has been a truck driver for FedEx Freight for over 30 years. Donrita Webb works at Intertech Mechanical.
They have been members of Incarnation Church since 2005, serving in several ministries, such as extraordinary ministers of holy Communion, server coordinator, parish council, finance, picnic chair and have served on many of the ACTS retreats.
He has been assigned to serve at St. Aloysius Church in Shepherdsville, Ky., and St. Benedict Church in Lebanon Junction, Ky.
So happy for these candidates and for the Diocese of Louisville. I loved meeting them at St. Meinrad last year; they will be a blessing for their parishes. Blessings on their ordination day and beyond.